Kirlampudi of East Godavari district is under siege in the wake of Kapu leader, former minister Mudragada Padmanabham's 'padayatra' demanding BC status for Kapu community in the state of Andra Pradesh.
Padmanabham has proposed 'Chalo Amaravati' from July 26. While the government is saying it won't allow the programme to go through, Kapu JAC leaders have already reached Padmanabham's house and are making arrangements to take up the padayatra. In view of past experiences, heavy police forces have been deployed in the village. Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Siva Sanker Reddy and ASP Nayeem Asmi are supervising the security arrangements local media reported
The police are observing restrictions over allowing people into Padmanabham's house. A thorough check is being done with metal detectors and closed circuit cameras have been installed on electricity poles across Padmanabham's house to monitor movements. While as many as four DSP's are looking after the four roads leading to the Kapu leader's house, police pickets have been erected along the NH 16 The Hindu reported.
The police department is using as many as 15 drone cameras to surveil the village. Nearly 6,000 police personnel, about 500 of them with body-worn cameras have been deployed. The forces, which are posted to foil the yatra here in different locations of the district, are screening each and every vehicle going towards Prathipadu to Kirlampudi, allowing any one with Aadar card or any other ID card DC reported.
Director General of Police, N Samba Siva Rao had earlier warned of stern actions against participants and stated that permission has not been granted for the 'Padayatra', and said it will be foiled at any cost.
The same Kapu agitation lead by Padmanabham in February 2016, resulted in massive arson in Tuni of East Godavari district. Angered by the delay in meeting their demands for reservations, several activists had set fire to the Ratnachal Express. As many as 63 cases were registered against the agitators including Padmanabam.
